Tumbling Dice

"Tumbling Dice"
Single by The Rolling Stones
from the album Exile on Main St.
B-side	"Sweet Black Angel"
Released	14 April 1972
Format	7"
Recorded	July–November 1971 Villa Nellcôte, France
Genre	Blues rock
Length	3:45
Label	Rolling Stones Records
Writer(s)	Jagger/Richards
Producer(s)	Jimmy Miller
The Rolling Stones singles chronology
"Wild Horses" (1971) "Tumbling Dice" (1972) "Happy" (1972)
Exile on Main St. track listing 18 tracks Side one "Rocks Off" "Rip This Joint" "Shake Your Hips" "Casino Boogie" "Tumbling Dice" Side two "Sweet Virginia" "Torn and Frayed" "Sweet Black Angel" "Loving Cup" Side three "Happy" "Turd on the Run" "Ventilator Blues" "I Just Want to See His Face" "Let It Loose" Side four "All Down the Line" "Stop Breaking Down" "Shine a Light" "Soul Survivor"

"Tumbling Dice"
Cover of the German single for "Tumbling Dice" with "Carmelita" as the B-side. The American version did not have a picture sleeve.
Single by Linda Ronstadt
from the album Simple Dreams
B-side	"I Never Will Marry"
Released	April 1978
Format	vinyl record
Recorded	1977
Genre	Rock, Classic rock
Length	3:05
Label	Asylum Records
Writer(s)	Jagger/Richards
Producer(s)	Peter Asher
Linda Ronstadt singles chronology
"Poor Poor Pitiful Me" (1977) "Tumbling Dice" (1978) "Back in the USA" (1978)

"Tumbling Dice" is a song written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards for The Rolling Stones' 1972 double album Exile on Main St., and was the album's first single. The single peaked at number 7 on the US charts and number 5 in the UK. The lyrics tell the story of a gambler who cannot remain faithful to any woman. The music has a blues boogie-woogie rhythm. "Tumbling Dice" has been performed in many of the band's concerts.

Cover versions of "Tumbling Dice" have been created in such diverse styles as reggae, bluegrass and noise rock. An updated version from a female perspective was a Top 40 hit single for Linda Ronstadt in 1978, which is included in the film FM and on her album Simple Dreams.

An early version of "Tumbling Dice", called "Good Time Women", was recorded in 1970 during the sessions for Exile on Main Street. The song is a bluesy boogie-woogie, heavy on Ian Stewart's piano work. The two songs are similar in structure in that they have the same chord progression and a similar melody. Also, Jagger sings the hook to the accompaniment of Taylor's lone lead guitar. However, "Good Time Women" lacked an opening riff, a background choir and the beat which propels "Tumbling Dice"'s groove. (An October 1970 recording of "Good Time Women" was released in 2010 on the deluxe remastered release of Exile on Main St.)

"Tumbling Dice" was recorded in the basement of the chateau Villa Nellcôte, near Villefranche-sur-Mer, France. The recording schedule for Exile on Main St. had the band sleeping all day and recording with whoever was around at night. The basic track of the song was recorded on 3 August 1971. Mick Taylor, the Rolling Stones' second guitarist, played bass on the track, due to bassist Bill Wyman's absence that night, and Mick Jagger plays guitar.